By Jared Murray

For the popular musician, the Grammy Awards mark the end of the holiday season, with the ultimate post-holiday gift being the always-coveted, miniature gold-plated gramophone. This year, the number of categories at the Grammys has decreased, dropping from 109 to 78. Now the different categories for male and female awards are integrated, along with several other changes affecting world music.

Despite the decrease in categories, British singer Adele is poised to sweep this year’s awards with her latest album, 21. Like the late Amy Winehouse, Adele is nominated for most of the major awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

It is Kanye West, however, who garnered the most nominations this year. He is nominated in seven categories including Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song for his hit “All Of the Lights.”

Other multiple nominees include Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars with six nominations each; Lil Wayne and Skrillex with five nominations each; and Drake, Bon Iver, Nicki Minaj, Mumford and Sons, Radiohead, and Rihanna each having four nominations each.

Here are a few of the more prominent awards and their nominees:

Record Of The Year

“Rolling In The Deep”- Adele
“Holocene”- Bon Iver
“Grenade”- Bruno Mars
“The Cave”- Mumford & Sons
“Firework”- Katy Perry

Album Of The Year

21– Adele
Wasting Light– Foo Fighters
Born This Way– Lady Gaga
Doo-Wops & Hooligans– Bruno Mars
Loud– Rihanna

Best New Artist

The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex

Best Rock Song

“The Cave”- Mumford & Sons
“Down By The Water”- The Decemberists
“Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall”- Coldplay
“Lotus Flower”- Radiohead
“Walk”- Foo Fighters

Best Alternative Music Album

Bon Iver– Bon Iver
Codes and Keys– Death Cab For Cutie
Torches– Foster The People
Circuital– My Morning Jacket
The King Of Limbs– Radiohead

Best Rap Song

“All Of The Lights”- Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
“Black And Yellow”- Wiz Khalifa
“I Need A Doctor”- Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
“Look At Me Now”- Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
“Otis”- Jay-Z & Kanye West
“The Show Goes On”- Lupe Fiasco

Best Country Album

My Kinda Party– Jason Aldean
Chief– Eric Church
Own The Night– Lady Antebellum
Red River Blue– Blake Shelton
Here For A Good Time– George Strait
Speak Now– Taylor Swift

In the weeks leading up the ceremony, keep checking The Bagpiper Online for continuous coverage and predictions of many of the most heated categories. For a complete list of nominations visit the Grammy’s website. This year the 2012 Grammy Awards will be held on Feb. 12 on CBS at 8/7c.